Abstract:
Background
A well-functioning health information system supports the delivery of health services by
ensuring the production, analysis, dissemination, and use of reliable information on health
determinants, system performance, and health status. Despite the intensive effort to improve the
efficiency of information systems and bring cultural transformation in information use in the past
few years, the use of information at the local level is still a challenge in Ethiopia.
Objectives: To assess routine health information system utilization and its associated factors
among health professionals in public and private health facilities of Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia
from July 25-August 25, 2021.
Methods: An institutional-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted. A stratified
multistage random sampling was used to select 638 participants, with a 1:1 ratio from public and
private health facilities. A self-administered pretested structured questionnaire was used to
collect data. Data was entered into Epidata version 3.1 and analyzed using STATA version 16.0.
Descriptive statistics were used to describe the dependent and independent variables. Binary
logistic regression was done to identify factors associated with the outcome variables. AOR with
95% CI was used to report association and significance was declared at P-value<0.05.
Results: The current study showed, the overall level of good utilization of routine health
information was 44.32% [(95% CI: 38.42%, 50.21%)] and with a significant variation (X2
(df) =
60.77(1), P<0.001) between public [59.8% (95% CI: 52.80%, 66.93%)] and private [28.7% (95%
CI: 19.21%, 38.10%)] health facilities. Perceived good culture of information use (AOR= 3.57,
95% CI:1.83,6.96), perceived good competency level (AOR=3.55,95% CI:1.84,6.84), good
knowledge status (AOR =4.43, 95% CI:2.33,8.40), working in health center (AOR=2.20, 95%
CI: 1.26, 3.85), and working in public health facility (AOR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.29, 3.44) increased
the odds of routine health information use.
Conclusion: The level of good utilization of routine health information among health
professionals was low in the current study area and significant variation between public and
private health facilities were identified. Perceived good of culture of information use, perceived
technical competency, knowledge status, working health facilities, and type of institution were
the significant predictors of routine health information utilization. Therefore, the identified
factors are the area of intervention to enhance the level of routine health information utilization.
